Collapsible leg structure for folding tables



w. HERRSCHAFT 2,713,529

July 19, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

nited CGLLAPSKBLE LEG STRUCTURE FOR FOLDING TABLES 2 Claims. (Cl. 311-83) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in folding tables, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a folding table which is adapted for either indoor or outdoor use and which may be quickly and easily folded or collapsed to facilitate convenient transportation and storage.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of a table having a foldable top and a foldable leg structure, the top and the leg structure being separably connected together and novel means being employed for sustaining the same in an erected position.

Other features of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its convenient operation, in its durabiiity, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view, and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention resides in the arrangement and construction of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding table constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, and taken in the plane of one of the legs;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the fastening elements used in the invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top plan view, on a reduced scale, of the table top;

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the top reinforcing members; and

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of one of the bushmgs.

With reference now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the folding table is designated generally by the numeral 10 and embodies in its construction a substantially rectangular top 12 which is formed from any suitable foldable material such as fabric, or the like. The top 12 is provided at marginal edges thereof with hems 14, 16 which are adapted to receive therein a set of reinforcing members 18.

The corner portions of the top are recessed or cut away as shown at 20, whereby the corner portions 22 of the reinforcing members 18 are exposed. It will be also observed that each of the members 18 includes a pair of angularly disposed arms 24, 26, each member being formed from wire rod and being somewhat resilient so that the arms 24, 26 are urged to an obtuse angular relation, as shown by the full lines in Figure 6. However, when the members are inserted in the hems 14, 16, the arms 24, 26 of the members are held by the hems in a right angle relation, as indicated by the dotted lines 26a in Figure 6. In this manner, the resiliency of the members 18, urging the arms 24, 26 into an obtuse angle, sustains the material of the top 12 in a stretched or taut condition.

tates Patent 2,713,528 Patented July 19, 1955 The invention also contemplates the provision of a set of diagonally crossed legs 28 which are foldably connected together at their point of crossing by an annulus or ring 30. Pairs of resilient sleeves 32 are provided on the legs 28, the sleeves in each pair engaging the respective upper and lower surfaces of the annulus 30.

Mushroom-shaped bushings 34 are provided at the upper ends of the legs 28 and are formed with annular grooves 36. The legs are separably connected to the top 12 by simply engaging the corner portions 22 of the reinforcing members 18 with bottom portions of the grooves 36 of the bushings 34, as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

Additional means are also provided for sustaining the top 12 in a taut condition and maintaining the table as a whole erect, these means consisting of bushings 34a which are similar to the bushings 34 and are positioned on the lower end portions of the legs 28. The bushings 34a are formed with annular grooves 36a, and fastening elements 38 of cord, wire, or the like, extend from the bushings at the upper ends of the legs to the bushings on the lower end portions of the respective, diagonally opposite legs, as shown in Figure 1.

With particular reference to Figure 3, it will be observed that each of the fastening elements 38 is provided at one end thereof with an eye 40 which engages the groove 36a of the lower bushing 34a, while an intermediate portion of the fastening element is in the form of an elongated loop which engages the upper portion of the groove 36 of the upper bushing 34.

A fastening device of an adjustable nature in the form of a disc 42 is provided on each fastening element, the disc 42 being formed with a row of three apertures 44, 46, 48. A short portion of the element 38 passes through the apertures 44, 48 as indicated at 50, while the free end portion of the element 38 passes through the aperture 46 and is coiled around the portion 50 as indicated at 52. The free extremity of the coil 52 is shown at 54.

Accordingly, when the table is to be erected, the legs 28 are spread apart and the bushings 34 at the upper ends of the legs are engaged with the corner portions 22 of the reinforcing members 18. Then, with the fastening elements 38 connected to the bushings 34, 34a, the free extremities 54 of these elements are drawn outwardly so that the elements 38 are taut. In this condition, the portions 50 of the taut elements will sustain the coils 52 in frictional engagement with the discs 42, so that the elements 38 will be prevented from becoming slack. The'taut elements 38 will sustain the top 12 in a stretched condition and coact with the legs 28 in maintaining the table as a whole erect and rigid.

When it is desired to fold the table, the fastening elements 38 are simply loosened in the fastening discs 42 so that the fastening elements may be disengaged from the bushings 34, 34a. Then, the legs 28 may be separated from the top and folded into a substantially parallel relation in the annulus 30.

The top 12 itself may be readily folded, it being observed that the arms 24, 26 of the reinforcing members 18 are of such length that two aligned arms of adjacent members are substantially coextensive with the hem (14 or 16) in which they are disposed. In other words, the combined length of the two arms of each member is substantially equal to one-half the combined length of two adjacent marginal edges of the top. The adjacent ends of the arms in each hem are spaced apart slightly, as illustrated in Figure 5, whereby the top may be folded into four quarters, despite the presence of the reinforcing members in the hems thereof.

Finally, it may be noted that the fastening elements 38 3 may be used either as described, or in a position inverted from that shown in Figure 3. In other words, the eyes 40 of the elements may be applied to either the bushings 34a, or to the bushings 34.

Although in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, various changes and modifications may be resorted to, such as may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a folding table and the like, a collapsible leg structure comprising pairs of diagonally crossed and substantially coplanar legs each pair having upper and lower ends in substantial vertical alignment, a ring loosely encircling said legs at their point of crossing and limiting the extent to which the upper and lower ends of the legs in each pair may be drawn together, means provided on said legs above and below said ring and engageable with the latter for preventing the legs from sliding through the ring, means for spacing apart the pairs of legs in the leg structure circumferentially of the ring, and means extending between the upper and lower end portions of the legs in each pair for drawing the same together and in engagement with said ring.

2. In a folding table and the like, a collapsible leg structure comprising pairs of diagonally crossed and substantially coplanar legs each pair having upper and lower ends in substantial vertical alignment, a horizontally flat ring loosely encircling said legs at their point of crossing, pairs of sleeve-like members provided on said legs above and below said ring and engageable with the upper and lower surfaces of the latter whereby to prevent the legs from sliding through the ring and limit the extent to which the upper and lower ends of the legs in each pair may be drawn together, means for spacing apart the pairs of le s in the leg structure circumferentially of the ring, and adjustable means extending between the upper and lower end portions of the legs in each pair for drawing the same together and urging said sleeve-like members in engagement with said ring.

UFUTED STATES PATENTS 451,102 Anderson Apr. 28, 1891 509,005 Voeltzkow Nov. 21, 1893 576,636 Urbanus Feb; 9, 1897 664,976 Sheffy et a1. Jan. 1, 1901 1,185,568 Zunert May 30, 1916 1,308,034 Bonifield July 1, 1919 1,338,124 Dale Apr. 27, 1920 2,139,673 Draper Dec. 13, 1938 

